Iran: S-300 Delivery from Russia Coming Soon

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister says Moscow and Tehran have concluded talks on the delivery of S-300 missiles to Iran.

Elad Benari, 26/05/15 05:31

S-300 missile defense batteries

Reuters

Moscow and Tehran have concluded talks on the delivery of Russian S-300 missiles to Iran which should take place "quite" soon, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Monday, according to the AFP news agency.

"The negotiations on the subject have ended in success. I estimate that the S-300 delivery will take place in quite a short time," Amir-Abdollahian was quoted as having said in Moscow.

"It will be done at the soonest opportunity possible," he added after meeting his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Bogdanov.

The Russian foreign ministry has not confirmed the announcement, but noted the "importance of maintaining a regular Russian-Iranian dialogue" in a statement Monday.

In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree lifting a ban on the delivery of S-300 anti-missile rocket systems to Iran.

Russia cancelled a contract to deliver the missile system to Iran in 2010, under pressure from the West following UN sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear weapons program. Putin has explained that his decision was motivated by Iran's drive to find a solution in talks over its nuclear program.

Washington has voiced concern over the deal, but Iran hailed the decision as a step towards "lasting security" in the region.

Tehran has previously said the missiles would be delivered by the end of the year, but Russia has denied this and said the delivery of the system “is not a matter of near future.”